Conditions of use

Risks

“Mountaineering Scotland recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.”

Climbing beyond your capabilities on any wall is likely to result in a fall. Any fall may result in an injury despite the safety systems in place to avoid it. You must make your own assessment of the risks whenever you climb. All climbers use the facility at their own risk.

The centre shall accept no responsibility for personal accident or loss of possessions.

Although the climbing centre is an artificial environment the risks involved are no less serious than when climbing outside on a crag or mountain. There is an additional risk that bolt-on holds can spin or break.

Admission policy

• Unsupervised climbing

  Before you climb without supervision the centre expects you to be competent in the use of a safety harness, a suitable knot to attach a rope to the harness and a belay device to secure a falling climber or lower a climber from the wall using a rope. You are required to register to say that you know how to use the equipment, that you are prepared to abide by the University of St Andrews Climbing Wall Rules and that you understand the risks involved in your participation.

  Upon first registration you will be required to participate in an assessment check with one of our Sports Assistants/Duty Managers/Climbing Officer before you are allowed to climb, if this is passed you will then be registered as an unsupervised assessed climber.

  Staff will provide any information and advice which they can but will not perform any instruction. If you are not confident in the use of any climbing equipment or appropriate techniques you must not attempt to climb and seek to book a place on an instructed session.

• Supervised climbing

  An adult 16(+) who has registered as an unsupervised assessed climber at the centre may supervise up to two novices as long as they are prepared to take full responsibility for those novices. The novices must be supervised at all times; the supervising assessed climber is not permitted to leave the immediate vicinity whilst their novices are in the climbing area and the assessed climber must not climb but must remain on the ground at all times.

  • All supervising climbers must complete a novice entry form to sign in their novices.
  • The novice must also complete a consent form.
  • If any novices are under 16 they must submit a parental consent form.
  • Each of these forms will need to be completed on every visit to the wall.

• University Mountaineering Club

  Club members will be required to register and undergo the assessment check to be declared registered unsupervised climbers. No novice climbers will be allowed into the club sessions out with GIAG and specific taster sessions at the start of semester. All club members wishing to learn will be required to sign onto a Saints Sport instructor led climbing lesson.

  Furthermore suitably qualified members of the club (hold valid CWA or NGB award) are permitted to lead ‘instructed’ groups during their club sessions on a 1:6 ratio.

• Instructor led climbing sessions

  Groups of 3(+) novices must only be supervised by an instructor holding the relevant qualifications.

  Any qualified instructors bringing a group of 3(+) novices to the centre must register as an external instructor. Copies of the relevant qualification, valid insurance and valid first aid must be presented along with the registration form. Permitted group ratios are 1:6 for roped climbing and 1:3 for lead climbing.

• Children (8-15 years)

  Children can only participate in climbing if supervised by a registered assessed competent climber or as part of an instructed group.